Chapter 37

(Renata Pellegrini)

All the hunger I was feeling has simply vanished, the emptiness that echoed in my stomach is now opening in my heart, again, the feeling of being betrayed. He calls me to live in his house, and when his mother calls, he says I am just a friend? What kind of friend visits a single man late at night?

I don't even want to think about the answer... My stomach is upset, I take my plate and put it back in the fridge, feeling the tears stuck in my throat. I walk with hurried steps back to the bedroom, but before I can open the door, Filippo comes out of the guest bathroom and holds my arm.

“What is it?” He asks me with a serious face.

“Nothing," I answer and try to let go, but he just squeezes his hand even tighter on my arm. "Please let go of me, I'm sleepy." I speak dryly without looking into his eyes, I don't want him to see the tears pooling in them.

“I told you not to lie to me, ragazza,” he holds my chin and forces me to look at him, I bite my mouth holding back